Novel Hydrogel Repairs Torn Cartilage

A new hydrogel that promotes cartilage repair has potential applications in orthopedics, wound care, and other clinical disciplines involving connective tissue.

The innovative hydrogel is intended as a less invasive alternative to surgery, putting off joint replacement surgery for at least five years. The new gel is composed almost entirely of water, yet can thicken to produce a substance 100-1000 times stronger than similar gels. This is due to the fact that it is composed of two very long elastic-like molecules of polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH) that form strong covalent bonds with each other to form a three-dimensional (3D) lattice network that holds the water. By adjusting the number of covalent bonds, the properties of the gel can be manipulated to make it thick, thin, or sticky. This is achieved by using a unique cross-linker (PD2000) that is capable of bonding with a range of copolymers to form materials with distinct combinations of useful properties. This also grants the gel the capability to hold molecules of other substances, whether water-soluble or not (such as oil).

The hydrogel is non-toxic, intrinsically bacteriostatic, and can be used as a medium for tissue growth. The hygrostatic gel can be extruded into films, can be used to generate microemulsions, is temperature and radiation resistant, and can be used for sustained release of incorporated substances due to zero-order kinetics. A feature of the technology includes physical and chemical properties capable of forming a wide range of hydrogels with different physicochemical properties, including the ability to vary the physical form from liquid to solids with very high water content with very high mechanical strength maintained. The cross-linking reaction can be completed unaffected by the presence of other substances, and is reversible when desired. The gel was developed by researchers at the University of Bradford (UK) and Advanced Gel Technology (AGT, Bradford, UK), a Bradford University spin-out company.

"The potential for improved quality of life is huge. The number of people suffering from cartilage problems is increasing every year,” said Peter Twigg, Ph.D., lead researcher of the cartilage repair project at the University of Bradford. "Total joint replacement is very successful, but may not be appropriate for younger, more active people. They are often encouraged to put off surgery until the pain is disabling, but a conservative replacement treatment could relieve pain and restore function at a much earlier stage.”

Related Links:
University of Bradford
Advanced Gel Technology